John Lysak poised to challenge James Ferrera for Springfield City Council presidency

Springfield City Council president James Ferrera,left, is seen with potential challenger John Lysak.

SPRINGFIELD — City Council President James J. Ferrera III, who is seeking the votes of his colleagues to remain president in 2013, appears to have a fight on his hands.

Ward 8 Councilor John A. Lysak, who has served as vice-president under Ferrera this year, said this week he is running for the top post of the 13-member council.

As of Wednesday, Lysak said it did not appear that either he nor Ferrera have the seven solid votes needed from the council to win the presidency.

“Yes, I’m running for president,” Lysak said. “I feel that the council, although Jimmy Ferrera is doing a good job, we have become very casino-centered. Although that is very important, there are a lot of other very important issues going on in the city.”

Ferrera said he knew Lysak was exploring a run for president, but did not know it was official.

“I intend to be a candidate for the council president next year,” Ferrera said. “We will see at the night of the caucus if my colleagues will support me. It is an honor to serve as council president, and I don’t blame any councilor for wanting to serve as council president.”

The council will have a caucus on Dec. 17, for an informal vote on the council president and vice-president positions. The formal vote occurs at the first meeting of the new year, Jan. 7.

Lysak said he wants to see the council more engaged with neighborhood councils and other community groups and would like to see stronger communication with the mayor and his administration. Lysak said the effort would include his plan to have bi-annual meetings between the council and all neighborhood councils and quarterly meetings with the mayor or his representatives.

There have been occasions before where more than one councilor has lobbied for the presidency, typically behind the scenes for months or weeks ahead of the vote.

In 2000, former Councilor Angelo J. Puppolo Jr., stirred some controversy when he announced he had the votes to become president in 2001 – five months in advance of the vote. The early announcement surprised Councilor Bud L. Williams, who fought for the position for the next few months with Puppolo prevailing.

Ferrera was elected president for the first time in 2012, after announcing he had the votes of support in mid-November of 2011, just after his re-election to the council.

The council president makes committee appointments, presides over meetings and oversees the council agenda. The council president’s annual salary is $15,000, $500 more than made by other councilors.

Ferrera is serving his third two-year term on the council, and Lysak is serving his second term.

Neither Ferrera nor Lysak revealed who might be supporting them for president.